2 go 



RECREATION 



baits, but before trying them on the fish, I 

 did some practice on the lawn. In a remark- 

 ably short time I learned how to handle the 

 rod and reel fairly well. 



Of course this outfit was very crude com- 

 pared to the one I fish with now, and I have 

 spent many hours improving, building and 



light, of small diameter, and the parts are 

 balanced perfectly, giving the proper amount 

 of momentum to the spool and handle, so 

 that a perfect cast is possible. 



The very best line for casting I have found 

 to be an exceedingly hard-braided silk line 

 of small diameter. This I treat with ordin- 



«&. 



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Photo by L. J. Tooley 



MY FAVORITE ROD 



fixing my tackle, but to-day I think I am 

 using the best tackle which could possibly 

 be construtcted for fishing or tournament 

 casting. 



[j- My rod is a four-foot, ten-inch, hexagon, 

 split bamboo, made up in two sections, a 

 tip thirty-six inches long, and a butt-joint 

 twenty-two inches long. The tip is fitted 

 with two guides having steel rings instead 

 of the usual agate. These are much lighter 

 and just as efficient. The butt-joint has one 

 guide with narrow agate ring. This guide is 

 fitted to the ferrule. 



f—At the tip is a special offset agate top, 

 having one-eighth inch hole. All the guides 

 are set up off the rod^ keeping the line from 

 coming in contact with the rod and thus 

 greatly retarding its movement. The butt- 

 joint has a double reel seat and grip, and the 

 Kalamazoo trigger is set in position for the 

 second finger in such a manner that the rod 

 is perfectly balanced. 



The tip is wound with very narrow wind- 

 ings at intervals of about two inches at the 

 butt, and gradually narrows until the tip 

 windings are very close together. 



For a reel I use a No. 3 Meek, and am 

 convinced, for both fishing and tournament 

 casting, after having used nearly every reel 

 made, that this reel has no superior. It is 



ary oil on a cloth each time before using, 

 being particular to see that it is properly 

 dried in the shade after the trip. 



As to baits, I am tempted to say with the 

 old woman, " Every one to their own tastes," 

 as she kissed a cow. To be perfectly candid, 

 I prefer the wooden minnow over every style 

 of bait. The makers have brought the con- 

 struction of this style of bait to such a state 

 of perfection that it is really a pleasure to use 

 one they appear so lifelike and beautiful as 

 they come through the water, and, what is 

 more, they catch fish. 



I have described these different articles 

 of my outfit that the beginner who reads 

 this may not experience the same difficulty 

 I did in securing proper tackle, and for the 

 same reason I shall give a brief description 

 of my method of using the various articles. 



Connect up rod, reel and line, and in lieu 

 of bait with hooks attached tie a weight 

 weighing one-half ounce to line, which 

 should be reeled up until the weight is about 

 five inches from the tip of the rod. 



Grasp the lower grip firmly in the right 

 hand, with the trigger between the second 

 and third fingers, having the thumb pressed 

 firmly upon the line that is spooled upon the 

 reel. 



The overhead cast is used very much in 



